ASSESSING RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN INDIAN STATES THROUGH A COMPOSITE INDEX OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

This research paper evaluates infrastructure in rural areas of Indian states, utilizing cross-sectional data from India and its 20 major states. To assess the performance of infrastructure, the study develops a composite index for economic and social infrastructure, incorporating key indicators such as tele-density, rural road length, electrification, the number of schools, access to safe drinking water, and primary health centres. Data is sourced from various secondary reports, including government publications and national surveys, ensuring a comprehensive overview of essential variables. To analyse the data, the Z-score technique standardizes the variables, and min-max scaling normalizes the weighted indicators to a composite index ranging from 0 to 100. States are classified as low, moderate, good, or high performers based on this index. Findings reveal significant disparities in infrastructure development, with states like Kerala, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh performing well in economic infrastructure. However, social infrastructure reveals a more complex landscape, with Uttar Pradesh excelling while states like Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand show significant lagging. These differences highlight the fact that gains in social services are not always correlated with progress in the economic infrastructure. The study highlights the need for focused governmental interventions to improve infrastructure on both fronts and support all-encompassing rural development. Ultimately, enhancing the quality of life in rural India and guaranteeing equitable growth rests on narrowing the gap between economic and social infrastructure investment. KEYWORDS: Economic Infrastructure, Social Infrastructure, Composite index, Z-Score, Min-max scaling